ADP 3-90, page 30
Offense and Defense
Army Doctrine Publication: Offense and Defense
July 2019 public edition (supersedes Aug 2018); key terrain cited in S2 KOCOA
Searchable page text (OCR / PDF)
Chapter 2
2-12
ADP 3-90
31 July 2019
ENGAGEMENT AREA
2-54. Some situations, such as engaging enemy forces from battle positions, have the best choice for control
being to sub-divide an engagement area. In this instance, subordinate units operate in the AO of their higher
headquarters. An engagement area is an area where the commander intends to contain and destroy an
enemy force with the massed effects of all available weapons and supporting systems.
FLANKS
2-55. A flank is the right or left limit of a unit. For a stationary unit, flanks are designated in terms of an
enemy’s actual or expected location. For a moving unit, the direction of movement defines the flanks.
Commanders try to deny an enemy the opportunity to engage their flanks because a unit cannot concentrate
as much direct fire on its flanks as it can to the front. Commanders seek to engage the flanks of enemy units
for the same reason. (Figures 2-3 and 2-4 depict flanks of a stationary and a moving unit.)
Figure 2-3. Flanks of a stationary unit